Telescope-sight for firearms.



G. F. MATTESON.

TELESGOPE SIGHT FOR FIREARMS.

APPLICATION FILED MAB.11, 1908.

Paten-ted Feb. 9, 1909.

UNITED STATES PTNT OEETCE.

GEORGE FRANKLYN MATTESON, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO., OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION.

TELESCOPE-SIG-HT FOR FIREARMS.

specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 9, 1909.

AppIication led March 11, 1908. Serial No. 420,405.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE FRANKLYN MATTEsoN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State ofConnecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement inTelescope-Sights for Firearms; and I do hereby declare the following,when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and the numeralsof reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the same, and which said drawings constitute part of thisspecification, and represent, in-

Figure 1 a View in central longitudinal section of a telescope sightconstructed in accordance with my invention, the front and rear mountsnot being shown, and portions of the tube being broken away. Fig. 2 aview in transverse section on the line zof Fig. 1 through the middlelens cell, showing the means provided for frictionally securing it inplace in the tube. Fig. 3 a broken reverse plan view of the tube,showing the transverse slot formed in it for access to the binding-screwcarried by the retaining-ring of the reticule holder. Fig. 4 a detachedsectional view of the middle lens cell. Fig. 5 a view thereof in rearelevation. Fig. 6 a sectional view of the reticule holder. Fig. 7 areverse plan view thereof. 8 a a detached view in elevation of thereticule and reticule carrying ring. Fig. 9 a detached view of thereticule enlarged.

My invention relates to an improvement in telescope sights for firearms,the object being to provide simple, convenient and accurate means,-forthe positive and minute relative adjustments of the lenses and reticuleas may be required for the accurate focusing of the image at thereticule at all ranges, for the adjustment of the rear or ocular lensrelative to t-he reticule in order to accommodate emmetropic, myopie andhypermetropic eyes, for changing the reticule as may be required by thevarying relative sizes of regular bulls-eyes at standard ranges so thatuniform margins between the reticule apertures and the images of thebulls eyes may be maintained, and for cleaning the lenses and reticuleand restoring` them to place after cleaning them without disturbing theadjustment of any part of the sight. l

A further object of my invention is to provide an aperture reticulefurnishing the smallest aperture with the smallest obstruction of thefield. Y

Vith these ends in view, my invention consists in a telescope-sight forfirearms having certain details of construction and combinations ofparts as will be hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

E or convenience of description I will begin with the front end of thetelescope in describing the several features of my improvement.

In carrying out my invention as herein shown, I provide a micrometeradjustment for the front or objective lens 2 which is mounted in arelatively long sleeve 3, to be hereinafter designated as the front lenscell, formed to the rear of its longitudinal center with an annularshoulder 4 which positions a thin sheet metal ring 5 forming the frontlens diaphragm. The lens is held against this diaphragm by alens-retaining ring 6 the external threads of which take into internalthreads 7 in the cell 3, the front edge v of the ring 6 being formedwith two screwdriver slots 8. The rear end of the cell 3 is formed withan external, longitudinally arranged registering or collimating groove 9which receives the forward end of an internal rib 10 produced within thetelescope tube 11 by the formation of a long groove 12 in the lower faceof its forward end. The said groove l12 functions in connection with thefront mount of the telescope which constitutes no portion of my presentinvention and is not shown.

vWhen the cell 3 is inserted into the front end of the tube 11 thegroove 9 is registered with the rib 10 which thereafter prevents thecell from turning in the tube and secures the axial alinement of thecell in the tube and also provides for the invariably correctpositioning of the cell therein. At its forward end the cell 3 isprovided with an annular locking flange 13 whose rearward surfaceengages with the front surface of adjusting sleeve 14 and whose forwardsurface engages with the cap 20. The adjusting sleeve 14 is providedwith internal threads 17 of fine pitch taking into correspondingexternal threads 1S upon the front end of the tube 11.

`External threads 19 upon the front end of the sleeve 14 are providedfor the reception of the cap 2O having corresponding internal threads21. Means are thus provided for a positive forward and backwardmicrometer adjustment of the cell and hence the objective lens accordingto the requirements of the range and locking the cell in its requiredposition by turning the cap which also functions as a jam nut. Thesleeve 111 is also provided with a lmurled annular operating rib 15 andwith an annular stop shoulder 16 which coacts with the front mount ofthe telescope to limit the rearward motion thereof when the same ispulled back through the mount by hand.

Coming now to the middle lens 22, it is mounted in a cell 23 to behereafter designated as the middle lens cell, the forward end of whichis a trifie smaller' in diameter than its rear end. This cell might alsobe called a lens-holder. The forward end of this cell is formed with aconcentric chamber for the reception of the lens and internally threadedfor the reception of an externally threaded lens-retaining ring 24having screwdriver slots 25 in its front edge. To hold the cell 23firmly in position within the tube 11, its rear end is formed with alarge concentric chamber 26 and partially separated from the front endof the cell by means of a deep transverse narrow slot 27 intersectedupon the lower face of the ring by a wide slot 28. These two slotsresult in the production of two corresponding spring arms 29 havingtheir free ends separated by the slot 28 and formed upon their uppercorners with bevels 30 which coact with an annular bevel 31 upon thehead of a screw 32 carried by a ring 33 fitting loosely within thechamber 26 in the rear of the cell. rEhe lens 22 having been introducedinto the cell 23, and secured by lens retaining ring, the cell isintroduced into the tube and moved along therein until the screw 32 isregistered with a hole 34 in the lower face of the tube 11. A screwdriver is then inserted through the hole 341 and applied to the screwwhereby the same is turned outward until its bevel 31 eoacts with thebevels 3() of the arms 28 so as to spread them apart and cause them tofirmly take hold of the interior walls of the tube 11 so as to lock thecell therein by friction. 1f it is desired to change the position of thecell 23 longitudinally, that may be provided for by forming an elongatedslot 35 as indicated by brolren lines in Fig. 3, in place of the screwhole 34C.

To fulfil ideal conditions, the reticule of a telescope sight forfirearms sometimes requires a very small aperture with the smallestpossible obstruct-ion of the field. To meet this requirement l make theaperture reticule out of exceedingly fine wire, as fine, let us say, astwo-thousandths of an inch in diameter. As shown in Figs. 8 and 9, theaperture reticule consists of a wire ring 36 on a wire stem 37 formed bytwisting the ends of the wire upon each other, the stem 37 being securedto a flat sheet-metal reticule-carrying ring 38 hzwing` a locking-tongue39 entering a locking recess 4.0 in the reticule-holder 41 which isconstructed differently in detail but on the principle of the-middlelens cell 23. rl`he said holder 41 is formed in its rear end with achamber L t2 for the reception of a ring 413 corresponding to the ring33 and carrying a screw 14 having a bevel 45 to coact with bevels 16formed in the inner corners of two springs arms L17 produced by formingslots fl-8 and 49 in the holder Z11, these slots corresponding to theslots 27 and 28 in the cell 23. The said reticule-carrying ring 38 isplaced against the front wall of the chamber 12 and heid againstrotation by the entrance of its locking lug 39 into the locking recessA-l-O aforesaid, which is located in front of the slot 4:8 and in linewith the slot 419, the reticule-carrying ring being held in thisposition by the bearing of the front edge of the ring 43 unen its rearface. The reticule-holder 11 is introduced into the tube 11 and movedalong thereinA until the screw etilis registered with a transverse slot50 in the lower face of the said tube. 151 screw-driver inserted throughthe said slot is now used to unscrew the screw the bevel 45 of whichceaets with the bevels 1G of the arms 47 which "are thus sprung apartand jammed against the interior walls of the tube 11 until the holder 11is firmly bound in place. rllhe form and arrangement of the slot 50permit the holder to be oscillated in the tube 11, if desired, before itis secured in place, as described, by springing the arms 117.

As thus constructed the aperture may be of the smallest possible size,while its stem is so small as to take up the least possible space in thefield. l-in aperture reticule thus made and mounted iu the ring 38 maybe readily interchanged with other reticules having larger or smallerapertures as required by varying sizes of bulls-e-yes and ranges. Inother words, as the relative size of standard bullss-eyes at standardranges vary and consequently vary the size of the image at the reticule,it becomes necessary to change the aperture reticule in order tomaintain uniform margins between the apertures and the images of thebulls-eyes.

It will be apparent that by using wire, a smaller aperture reticule maybe obtained than would be practicable to secure in a reticule made ofsheet metal. Furthermore a reticale-support made of wire may have asmaller area than practical in a sheet metal reticule support, it beingimperative that the support shall be reduced to the smallest possiblebulk in order to take up the least space in the eld. Furthermore byusing wire I secure for the aperture reticule a smooth surface, whereas.aperture reticules made of sheet metal have ragged edges, which underthe lenses are so enormously magnified as to be objectionable andcollect particles of dust which on being magnified, interfere with thevision. Other forms of reticules, suoli as cross hairs may be attachedto ring 38 and interchanged in reticule holder 41.

The rear lens or ocular is mounted in a cell 56 having an internalmicrometer thread 57 taking into a corresponding external thread 58 onthe rear end of the tube 11, the said lens being held in place by meansof an externally threaded lens-retaining ring 59 having screw-driverslots 60. The range of threads 58 upon the tube 11`provides foradjusting the ocular 55 as may be required for normal, nearsighted orfar-sighted eyes. The cell 56 is secured in place by means of alocking-sleeve or jam nut 6l having internal threads 62 corresponding tothe threads 58. At its rear end the nut 61 has a knurled rib 63 by meansof which the sleeve is turned and brought to a bearing against theforward end of the cell 57 for locking the same as set. At its forwardend the sleeve 61 is formed with an annular stop shoulder 64 whichengages with the rear mount of the sight and limits the forward movementof the sight when the same is pushed forward by hand.

The rear end of the sleeve 14 and the front end of the sleeve 6l andadjacent parts of the tube 11 are graduated to aid in adjusting thetelescope sight and also provide means for recording and duplicatingadjustments for particular conditions.

I claim l. In a telescope sight, the combination with a tube having itsforward end struck inward to form an integral internal rib, of a lenscell having in its exterior surface a shallow groove receiving the saidrib for positioning the cell which is held against rotation but leftfree to move back and forth, and means for adjusting the cell back andforth as required for setting the lens for different ranges.

2. In a telescope sight, the combination with the tube thereof, of alens cell formed with a laterally movable arm, and means for Amoving thesaid arm against the interior wall of the tube for binding the cell inplace therein.

3. In a telescope sight, the combination with the tube thereof, of alens cell having a laterally movable arm, a ring in the said cell, and ascrew carried by the said ring and coacting with the said arm forlaterally moving the same for binding the cell in position within thetube.

4. In a telescope sight, the combination with a tube having a holetherein, of a lens cell having its rear end chambered and formed withtwo laterally movable arms, a ring inserted within the said chamber, anda screw carried by the said ring and coacting with the ends of the armsfor laterally moving the same to bind them against the interior wall ofthe tube, the said screw being operated through the hole formed in thetube.

5. In a telescope sight, the combination with the tube thereof, of alens cell having a laterally movable arm, a ring located within thecell, and a screw carried by the said ring and formed with a bevel forcoaction with the said arm for forcing the same outwardly to bind thecell in place.

6. In a telescope sight, the combination with the `tube thereof, of aholder formed with a movable arm in the said tube, a ring in the saidholder, and a screw carried by the ring for coaction with the said armfor moving the same and thus frictionally holding the holder in placewithin the tube.

7. An aperture reticule for telescope sights, made from a single pieceof wire and comprising a ring and a twisted stem.

8. In a telescope sight for firearms, the combination with a tube, of aflat sheetmetal reticule-carrying ring provided with an outwardlyprojecting integral lockingfinger, a reticule applied to the said ring,and a reticule holder frictionally secured in place within the tube ofthe telescope and formed with a recess to receive the saidlocking-finger.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification in the presenceof two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE FRANKLYN MATTESON.

Witnesses:

DANIEIS H. VEADER, THOMAS C. JOHNSON.

